oChef » Mashita Galbi Jjim – San Francisco » Mashita Galbi Jjim – San Francisco – Reviews

Mashita Galbi Jjim - Reviews

2123 Polk St, 94109 San Francisco
All reviews at a glance
268

Reviews

87.3%

Satisfaction

17

negative

17

neutral

234

positive

What people say about Mashita Galbi Jjim

Price per Person
  • $41–$50
Visit Type
  • Casual Outing
Group Type
  • Family
Group Size
  • Small Group
Service Type
  • Dine-in
Meal Type
  • Dinner
Wait Time
  • Moderate (16–30 min.)
Noise Level
  • Moderate
Leo
Review date: 09/15/2025
7
Solid Galbi Jjim, Cozy Ambiance
I visited Mashita Galbi Jjim on a Sunday evening around 6 PM with a party of four, and to my surprise, there was no wait—we were seated right away. Despite only two staff members working the floor, the restaurant maintained a steady rhythm of service. The space is inviting, featuring a high ceiling that creates an airy feel, a clean bathroom, and a generally cozy environment conducive to a comfortable meal. For food, we ordered the pork tonkatsu and their signature galbi jjim. The tonkatsu arrived quickly, golden and crispy, delivering a satisfying crunch and savory bite. The galbi jjim, however, took about 30 minutes to arrive, which seemed to be the norm. While the wait built anticipation, it disrupted the meal's pacing. The flavors of the galbi jjim were solid—rich, hearty, and braised with care—but lacked the depth I've experienced elsewhere; I personally prefer Daeho’s version for its more memorable flavor and overall experience. Service was professional and efficient given the limited staff, though not particularly warm or engaging, feeling more functional than personal, but all our needs were met without issue. Mashita balances casual comfort with a polished feel, making it a nice spot for a relaxed meal. The restaurant is fairly priced for the quality and portion sizes. While the food is solid and the dining experience smooth overall, it wasn't compelling enough to become my go-to for galbi jjim. My final verdict is 4/5: a reliable option with cozy ambiance and decent execution, but not distinctive enough to stand out in a city with strong competition.
  • wait6
  • staff6
  • service6
  • meal pacing3
Visit Type
  • Food Exploration
Service Type
  • Dine-in
Meal Type
  • Dinner
Noise Level
  • Loud
L
Review date: 07/28/2025
7
Delicious Galbijim, but a bit too sweet
My experience at the restaurant featured a mild (level 1) galbijim, which was rated 4. 5/5 and described as delicious. The portion size was noted as being bigger than at Daeho. However, it was suggested that the galbijim would be better if it were less sweet. The banchan were also good. The Brazilian lemonade received a perfect 5/5. On the downside, the atmosphere was considered too loud at 7 pm. The reviewer also rated Service as 4, Atmosphere as 4, and Food as 5.
  • galbijim9
  • portion size8
  • banchan7
  • sweetness4
  • noise level3
Price per Person
  • $21–$30
Visit Type
  • Food Exploration
Service Type
  • Dine-in
Meal Type
  • Dinner
Debbie L. (.
Review date: 06/10/2025
9
Excellent Galbijjim, Worth the Wait
My experience at this Korean restaurant on Polk St was centered around their Galbijjim. The star of the show is undoubtedly the short rib stew, which comes generously portioned with rice cakes, cheese, and noodles. The meat was incredibly tender and flavorful, falling right off the bone. While we initially thought the portions might be smaller than other places, the absence of bones meant a substantial amount of meat. I highly recommend trying their other dishes as well; the garlic chicken noodles, dumplings, and fried chicken were all very good. The banchan was standard. We were lucky to have made reservations, as the restaurant filled up quickly even on a Thursday night. If you're craving Galbijjim, this is a great option. The service was friendly, though it did slow down as the restaurant got busy, suggesting they might have been a bit understaffed. The place is on the smaller side, so reservations are definitely advised. I recommend checking them out!
  • short rib stew10
  • meat9
  • portion8
  • understaffed4
Price per Person
  • $31–$40
Visit Type
  • Food Exploration
Group Type
  • Couple
Group Size
  • Couple
Service Type
  • Dine-in
Noise Level
  • Loud
Honglu W.
Review date: 05/12/2025
7
Generous Portions, Slightly Pricey
My experience at this restaurant was marked by generous food portions, with the galbijjim being particularly stuffing for three people. While the food was pretty good, it was slightly pricey for those not in the tech industry. The atmosphere was rated a 4, and service also received a 4. The noise level was loud, but conversation was still possible.
  • food portions9
  • galbijjim9
  • food7
  • price4
Price per Person
  • $91–$100
Visit Type
  • Food Exploration
Service Type
  • Dine-in
Wait Time
  • Short (6–15 min.)
Kirsten D. L.
Review date: 05/05/2025
9
New Go-To Spot for Korean Food!
This is my new found go-to spot for kfood! As a picky Korean restaurant goer, I often find that most Korean restaurants taste the same. However, this place hits differently, reminding me of MuguBoka Korean Resto in Balboa, SF, which remains my top favorite. The FOOD AND PORTIONS ARE MWA A CHEFS KISS! We always order the spicy beef soup, organic wings, and unagi bowl. It's a MUST TRY <3.
  • food10
  • portions10
  • spicy beef soup9
Visit Type
  • Food Exploration
Service Type
  • Dine-in
Meal Type
  • Dinner
Iris
Review date: 04/29/2025
10
Amazing Food, Great Portions!
I had dinner here tonight and arrived right at 5 pm because I was so excited to try! The side dishes were amazing, including salad and japchae, along with classics like kimchi and cucumber. We tried the spicy chicken wings, the beef dumplings, and the classic galbi with cheese. Everything was so good! The only downside is I got too full too fast, lol. I wish I could keep eating. The portions are great, and we have enough food for lunch and dinner tomorrow! Highly recommend!
  • side dishes10
  • spicy chicken wings9
  • beef dumplings9
Visit Type
  • Food Exploration
Service Type
  • Dine-in
Meal Type
  • Dinner
Taylor S.
Review date: 04/25/2025
6
Good chicken, but not the best
My experience at this restaurant was decent, though it didn't quite reach the heights of Daeho. The chicken was a nice addition to the meal. While the food received a score of 2, the service was rated a strong 5. The atmosphere was rated a 3.
  • chicken7
  • service10
  • atmosphere6
  • food2
Visit Type
  • Food Exploration
Service Type
  • Dine-in
Meal Type
  • Dinner
Erin S.
Review date: 03/25/2025
10
Best Galbijjim, Better Than Daeho!
My experience at this restaurant was fantastic, especially the food. I had the galbijjim, which was the best I've ever tasted, even better than Daeho. It had a wonderfully homey taste, and the meat was incredibly tender. I dined in for dinner.
  • galbijjim10
  • homey taste9
  • meat10
Price per Person
  • $31–$40
Visit Type
  • Food Exploration
Service Type
  • Dine-in
Meal Type
  • Dinner
Kara C.
Review date: 03/22/2025
10
Absolutely Delicious Galbi Jjim!
My experience at this restaurant was absolutely DELICIOUS! We ordered the galbi jjim without cheese, with a spicy level set to spicy, and also the spicy beef soup. The restaurant provided very generous portions of banchan and beef in the galbi jjim. The soup was so good, I couldn't put my spoon down even after I was full. I will definitely be back and am so glad it's on Polk and much closer to me (and more delicious) than daeho.
  • galbi jjim10
  • spicy beef soup10
  • portions of banchan9
Price per Person
  • $31–$40
Visit Type
  • Food Exploration
Group Type
  • Friends
Group Size
  • Small Group
Service Type
  • Dine-in
Meal Type
  • Dinner
Zeab G.
Review date: 03/22/2025
9
Amazing Food, Great Family Experience!
Came after high recommendations from friends. The food was amazing. I had a great experience with the restaurant family. There was lots of food, and I'm excited for breakfast leftovers 😅. I will definitely be back soon!
  • food10
  • great experience9
  • lots of food9

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